Spencer booked for Ballad

Jamie Spencer has been provisionally booked by Godolphin to partner Moon Ballad in the Vodafone Derby, Godolphin`s official website has announced.

And Spencer`s first ride in the premier classic on June 8th will coincide with his 22nd birthday.

He has though had experience of riding in a classic at Epsom having finished sixth on Tarascon in the 1998 Vodafone Oaks behind Shahtoush.

Moon Ballad booked his place at Epsom on Saturday week when making all the running to win the Group Two Convergent Dante Stakes at York under an inspired Spencer ride. He is a 20-1 shot with William Hill.

'They have hit it off well together. He`s a nice little horse and a good ride for him,' said his agent Ray Cochrane, who tasted Derby glory himself as a jockey on Kahyasi in 1988.

Spencer has yet to win an English classic but he landed his second Entenmann`s Irish 1000 Guineas on Gossamer on Sunday following his success on Tarascon four years ago.

His booking by Godolphin appears to end speculation that his Derby bow would be on which of Aidan O`Brien`s main contenders, Hawk Wing or High Chaparral, rejected by Michael Kinane.

Spencer finished a close second on Hawk Wing in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas behind stablemate Rock Of Gibraltar for the Ballydoyle trainer.

Godolphin`s retained jockey Frankie Dettori is set to stick with 12-1 chance Naheef. He was only 14th in the 2000 Guineas, but he made a winning debut over over seven furlongs of the Derby course last July and was second to Hawk Wing in the Group One Aga Khan Studs National Stakes at the Curragh.

Spencer has also been pencilled in for Godolphin`s Marienbard in the Vodafone Coronation Cup on Friday week, having won the Group Three Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on the five-year-old four weeks ago.

Again Godolphin intend to be double-handed with Dettori set to ride Kutub in the Coronation Cup. The five-year-old was fifth to Mairenbard on his seasonal debut at Newmarket.

And Dettori will also wear theblue colours of Godolphin on Kazzia in the Vodafone Oaks as the German-bred filly bids to add to her victory in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas.